Casinos' Attempt to Skirt Annual Fees Fails in High Court

2023/04/28

In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court in Goa dismissed the claims of casino operators who sought to evade paying an annual recurring fee (ARF) of Rs 321 crore during the pandemic closure.

Casinos' Attempt to Skirt Annual Fees Fails in High Court

The court viewed the petitioners' claims as an attempt to seek public subsidies for casino operations and upheld the government's right to collect the fee as the price for parting with its exclusive privilege to allow casino operations.

Casino News India: The Legal Relationship between Government and Casino Operators

The court's judgment sets the status of the legal relationship between the government and casino operators within the sphere of the Constitution and contract law.

The petitioners had argued that the government's order to close casino operations during the pandemic made it unfair and arbitrary to insist on paying the annual recurring fees.

They also objected to the penal interest of 12% per annum for the closure periods.

However, the court rejected these claims, stating that the fee charged by the government is the price for parting with its exclusive privilege to permit casino operations.

If the government is compelled to forgo the fee, the burden would ultimately fall on the people and honest taxpayers through higher taxes or the abandonment of welfare functions.

Casino News India: The Impact of Casino Operations on Public Property

The court observed that casino vessels parked in the Mandovi river, accessible from spots that could be legitimately described as the heart of the capital city's commerce, exert pressure on navigation, parking, garbage clearance, and regulation to ensure no sewage is discharged into the river.

Policing is also needed as the casinos operate through the night. The court said that similar services are rendered by the state even to onshore casinos and the thousands of tourists who flock to such places.

Casinos' Attempt to Skirt Annual Fees Fails in High Court

Casino News India: The Public Trust Doctrine and the Use of Public Property

The court noted that licenses were issued without determining the price that the highest bidders were willing to pay.

It said that the public trust doctrine requires that the use of public property must be permitted to the highest bidder. The court said fees and their recovery must be considered from this perspective.

Casino News India: The Significance of the Court's Ruling

The court's ruling is significant in the context of the casino industry in India, where many casinos were closed during the pandemic.

The ruling upholds the government's right to collect annual recurring fees from casino operators and highlights the impact of casino operations on public property.

It also underscores the importance of the public trust doctrine in regulating the use of public property.

Casino News India Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bombay High Court's ruling sets an important precedent for the regulation of the casino industry in India. The court's decision to uphold the government's right to collect annual recurring fees from casino operators underscores the importance of the public trust doctrine in regulating the use of public property. The ruling also highlights the impact of casino operations on public property and the services rendered by the state to ensure the proper functioning of such operations. This casino news India should serve as a reminder to all stakeholders in the industry of the need to uphold regulatory standards and ensure the responsible use of public property.